Premier Parry explains Stay of Execution Granted

Premier of Nevis, Hon. Joseph Parry at his Bath Hotel office

Charlestown, Nevis (Wednesday, March 28, 2012)–Premier of Nevis, the Hon. Joseph Parry said he was pleased that the Stay of Execution was granted Wednesday for the Nevis Deputy Premier, Hon. Hensley Daniel to continue to serve as the duly elected representative for the constituency of St. John (Nevis 2 -local). The Premier made the pronouncement Wednesday morning in a statement to the nation.

On advice by Senior Counsel for the Respondents, Mr. Anthony Astaphan and Counsel for Mr. Hensley Daniel, Dr.Henry Browne, Premier Parry said that at a sitting of an Appeal court held in St Kitts Wednesday morning, one of the Appeal Case judges granted the stay of execution and the five orders of Judge Lionel Jones, that were issued last week Wednesday in the Election Petition case which took place in the High Court in Charlestown.

“My understanding is that according to Mr. Browne, none of the five orders will be carried out until the hearing of the Appeals Court hand down its decision,” said the Premier.

He also said that in absence of a stay of execution there was no direction from the Governor General and no direction from the Nevis House of Assembly. The procedure would have been that when the Judge would have certified his ruling and then passed it to the Governor General.

The Governor General in turn would have contacted the President of the Nevis House of Assembly, and the President would have called the Assembly, announce that the seat is vacant, and the position is null and void.

“To my knowledge, the Assembly was never called and the President was never informed, and therefore the Hon. Hensley Daniel continued as representative for St. John’s and as the Minister, said the Premier.

The Hon. Joseph Parry said that some persons have been encouraged to disrespect the government by politicians, “who should know better, politicians who say one thing now and something else later”.

The Premier also pointed out that the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) and the NRP- led government has at all times during this case, “acted with a level of maturity that should be congratulated on all sides.”

“We (NRP) have demonstrated to the people of Nevis that we are mature, that the NRP understand the process of democracy and have respect for all. People need to understand that the local election was democratically conducted, that the decision was made and the Hon. Hensley Daniel was declared the winner fairly,” concluded the Premier.